Home / Basic Ophthalmology Review / Direct Ophthalmoscope Show Title: How to Use the Direct Ophthalmoscope
Understand the utility of the direct ophthalmoscope The direct ophthalmoscope allows you to look into the back of the eye to look at the health of the retina, optic nerve, vasculature and vitreous humor. This exam produces an upright image of approximately 15 times magnification. Instrument Parts Light Settings
Exam Technique
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Faculty Approval by: Griffin Jardine, MD Copyright statement: Copyright Tania Padilla Conde, ©2018. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit: URL to copyright information page on Moran CORE Identifier: Disclosure (Financial or other): None How do you find the optic disc with an ophthalmoscope?Begin at arm's length by shining the ophthalmoscope light into the patient's pupil (you will then see the red reflex). Follow this reflex until your forehead rests on your thumb—you should immediately see the optic disc.
Where would you look to visualize the optic disc?When examining the eye with an ophthalmoscope, where would the nurse look to visualize the optic disc? Follow the blood vessels as they get wider. Follow the vessels medially toward the nose and look for the round yellowish orange structure which is the optic disc.
How do you assess optic discs?Probably the most accurate way to manually measure the optic disc is to do high-plus non-contact funduscopy using a 78- or 90-D lens and a slit lamp. To do this, simply bring the disc into view with your high plus lens using a narrow slit lamp beam.
Which structures can be viewed through the ophthalmoscope?The retinal structures viewed through the ophthalmoscope are the optic disc, the retinal vessels, the general background, and the macula.
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